Weekly Devotion: When What You Want is Overruled by God

March 4th, 2025

When What You Want is Overruled by God

Have you ever been so sure of your plans—where you were going, what you were doing, and how life was going to unfold—only for God to step in and completely overrule them?

That’s what happened to Ananias in Acts 9:13-16. God commanded him to go and lay hands on Saul, a man known for persecuting Christians. Ananias hesitated, questioning if God had fully considered the risk. But God did not negotiate with him. Instead, He reaffirmed His decision: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine.” (v. 15)

This moment in Scripture teaches us a powerful truth: God’s plans are not up for debate. When He calls us, our fears, doubts, or preferences do not override His sovereignty. The real question is, how will we respond when God’s will contradicts our own?

Acknowledge your concerns but don’t let them stop your obedience.Like Ananias, it’s okay to have questions. But faith means trusting God even when you don’t understand.
Stop wrestling with God’s direction. God’s plan is not up for negotiation. He doesn’t need our approval; He needs our obedience.
See through God’s eyes. We tend to see through the lens of our fears, biases, and limited understanding. But God sees the bigger picture.Remember Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
Realize that it’s not about you—it’s about God’s glory. Saul’s calling was not about him—it was about bearing the name of Jesus to the world.
Jesus modeled this in Luke 22:42, saying, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”

Prayer This Week

Heavenly Father,
“I surrender my plans to You. Forgive me for the times I have resisted Your will because it didn’t make sense to me. Teach me to trust You even when I have concerns, to obey You even when I am afraid, and to see life through Your eyes instead of my own. May my life be about Your glory, not my comfort. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Identify one area where you feel hesitant to obey God. Maybe He is calling you to witness to someone, forgive someone, or step out in faith.
Ask God for the courage to trust Him completely. Write down a verse (like Proverbs 3:5-6) to meditate on daily.
Take one step of obedience this week—even if it feels uncomfortable. Trust that if God is leading you, He will equip you.

Final Thought

Like Ananias, we will all face moments where our will and God’s will collide. Faithfulness does not mean the absence of concern, but it does mean obedience. Will you trust Him—even when it doesn’t make sense? Will you obey—even when it disrupts your plans? May we, like Jesus, always say: “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Challenge:

Journal how your perspective changed throughout the week as you applied God’s Word. What did you learn about trusting Him? What fears did you surrender? How did God move through your obedience?